User reviews

4/10 STARS - O'dessa is a musical set in a post-apocalyptic world. I admit the concept alone was a bit of a head scratcher because ... why? I decided to go ahead and screen it anyway and unfortunately it didn't really hit the mark with me. I'm not a huge fan of musicals to begin with (there are some exceptions like Better Man and Sound of Music - both of which I LOVE), but oddly, it wasn't the musical aspect of it that bothered me the most. In the beginning I was getting a little annoyed at how many songs there were in just the first 15-20 minutes of the film, but as the story went along, it wasn't as much of an issue with me, especially since some of those numbers happened during a performance setting so it fit in well enough with the narrative. The problem I have is that while a unique blend of genres can sometimes work well, most of the time they don't. And this was one such time. In many ways, O'dessa doesn't seem to know what it wants to be: powerful, moving musical, post-apocalyptic thriller drama, romance, hero's journey? It couldn't effectively be all four at the same time and consequently, some parts of the plot felt "underbaked" and lacking substance. The romance felt rushed and unearned, and some of the narrative flows felt sloppily stitched together. Another reviewer descried it as a "disjointed music video marathon" and having "style without purpose" and those are great ways to describe it. The acting was fine (I didn't even recognize Regina Hall, because of the wacky haircut she had), but some of the characters did feel a bit over the top and cookie-cutter - especially the main antagonist played by Murray Bartlett. I did enjoy the performance Kelvin Harrison, Jr. Gave us and Sadie Sink did an admirable job at the singing and guitar playing, but ultimately, O'Dessa was a lackluster viewing experience. Quick take video review will be available on my YouTube channel shortly.

O'Dessa may catch your eye with some cool visuals and a few catchy musical moments, but that's pretty much where its strengths end. Sadie Sink is the standout here as she brings a commitment and charisma that makes up a little for the film's weak, contrived plot and shallow character development. Despite the film's ambitious attempts to mix different styles and eras, it ends up feeling like a messy collage without much substance to hold it together.

The movie just can't find a clear direction, with a tonally inconsistent script that feels more like a string of expositions than a well-paced story. While it's fun to see the stylistic nods and moments of creativity, everything else falls flat and leaves you with a feeling that, aside from Sadie's performance, nothing truly resonates.

O'Dessa is an interesting film with immersive visuals and cinematography, good acting, but unfortunately, the plot falls a bit short. While there are strong performances, especially from Sadie Sink and Kevin Harrison Jr., the film feels subpar in its execution.

The film is set in a dystopian future where O'Dessa (Sadie Sink) is in search of her guitar which belonged to her father and meant everything to her. She travels to Satellite City, a dangerous place, and encounters a fractured society. Along the way, she finds unexpected allies and dangerous enemies. As she pieces together the truth, she is forced to confront the reality of a world that may not be what it seems.

The cinematography is one of the film's strongest aspects as it presents a world that is both immersive and striking in its visuals. I enjoyed the exaggerated use of color and lighting and the set. The score is decent, but it doesn't leave a lasting impact. There are moments when the music enhances the mood, but overall, it lacks the emotional weight that could have elevated it. Sadie Sink delivers a raw and emotionally charged performance, bringing depth to O'Dessa in a way that makes her journey compelling. Sink has been in many dramas, but I've never seen her in a film like this one and enjoyed her performance. Kevin Harrison Jr. In his role as Euri Dervish performs well and the chemistry between him and Sink adds a layer of sincerity to the film. The thing that pulls this down is the storyline. There are interesting ideas presented, but they aren't fully developed, which leaves the film feeling somewhat hollow, despite its artistic ambition. Ultimately, O'Dessa is a film that thrives in its aesthetics but stumbles in storytelling. While it's worth watching for the cinematography and performances, the lack of a strong narrative makes it fall short of being truly memorable.

The film's message is that there is good and evil in this world and it's up to us to recognize what is corrupt and to make a difference.

I give O'Dessa 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can catch it on Hulu beginning March 20, 2025.

By Zoe C., KIDS FIRST!

A movie so disappointing and painful to sit through that it barely warrants a full paragraph.

"O'Dessa" is 106 minutes of clumsy storytelling and amateurish filmmaking, leaving you wondering how projects like this even get greenlit. The film looks cheap, with shallow characters we struggle to care about, one of the most lifeless romances ever put on screen, and cartoonish "villains" who are so non-threatening they barely qualify as antagonists. The costume design is laughable, the dialogue is ridiculous, and worst of all, the music - arguably the most critical element of a musical - feels like it was churned out by an AI, utterly generic and forgettable.

A painful experience overall, made even worse by the disappointment of what could have been an exciting musical adventure.

Sadie Sink deserves better.

People say they want original stories, and O'dessa definitely brings one.

This film visually stunning with a bold, stylized, apocalyptic world, and in my opinion, the soundtrack is genuinely beautiful-Sadie Sink's voice is incredible and especially held my attention during those parts.

On the other hand, I didn't fully connect to the romance as much as I wanted to, but knowing it's rooted in the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice helped me appreciate it more. As a rock opera told almost entirely through song, it won't be for everyone, but it's ambitious, unique, and I got the message it was putting out there.

What was described as a rock opera set in a post-apocalyptic world only followed through on the set design and moderately good acting. The only characters that actually became introduced and well fleshed out were that of O'dessa and Euri, everyone else was merely a placeholder in the story.

Whilst the romantic story was good the rest of both the story and the singing was dreadfully lacking. Sadie Sink has a beautiful voice that whilst it lent itself well to the songs they were about as close to rock as Elvis Presley ever was whilst singing country songs.

None of the songs were memorable, and I am reviewing this not even 5 minutes from the ending of the film, and frankly felt like I have just wasted the past 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Kelvin Harrison was beautiful to watch. The two main characters had as much chemistry as a dog and a cat. I think another actress might have done better but if she sang things herself, then no. Things just didn't make sense to me about how the world got to the place it was at and how one man controlled it. Plasma? Huh? The scenes and campy features were great. The music is really impressive and moving. I do think it is worth a watch. I'm a huge Regina Hall fan and she rocked it. Boone gave a Tom Waits like performance that had me wishing for more. My daughter and I liked the hopeful feeling it left at the end.

My only reason to watch it being that it starred Sadie Sink in the main lead to whom I've had crush on since the season 2 of Stranger Things and I've not missed her any role ever since, so it was obvious that I would watch this one. It's not bad movie, it's kind of an B movie in it's genre but still it doesn't become a good B movie like the other B movie which Sadie sink herself starred in and that being the fear street 2, atleast there the performance were good for a B movie, here everyone looked like there were only there to pay their bills except for Sadie Sink the role really suited her, she slayed in her musical and she really looked awesome in her short hair 😍😍(may be I should stop simping and focus on other things)

It's not a terrible movie, but It had potential of being something better it also started with a good underdog premise but till the last act it didn't hold up.

I am an avid film geek but certainly not an expert. I took this film for what it was, with no expectations and just enjoyed the ride.

For me, I was hooked from the start, music was good, lyrics were very touching and the bizarre sci Fi world was a great touch.

Sometimes we over think our experiences and forget to just enjoy the moment and for me, I enjoyed every moment in this film. So much so; I am playing the album.

The cast were good and Sadie really shone and I enjoyed watching her. I'm sure we will see more of her in the decades to come.

Don't forget to open your minds, cherish the message given in this film and enjoy.

Geremy Jasper's film seemed like one of those wonderful surprises we found, but unfortunately it deflates as the story progresses, leaving us with the feeling of a film that has good intentions, but lacks the necessary force to establish its own name as a great film.

Sadie Sink is everything.

I've always thought she's the most talented of the Stranger Things children, and she proves it with her performances every chance she gets. This time, she does it again, taking on all the virtues of a film whose script, unfortunately, doesn't fully support her. Sink dazzles with her wonderful voice and stage performance in this post-apocalyptic musical, and she's the one who fills the screen at every turn with her splendid red hair. Beyond her hair, she excels at acting because the young actress knows how to narrow the gaps where the film seems to lose its way, allowing viewers to never let their guard down, waiting for that promised finale.

Interesting ideas, bad developments.

The ideas of its director, who also wrote the script, are quite striking, and at first, they make you feel like what a marvel this is, but as the film progresses, it falls into the simplistic romance and villain clichés that don't fit with its wonderful initial part. It's at that moment that the film considerably lowers its potential and transforms into a gamble that could have been much more complete than it ends up being. Although it still has certain connections that make it interesting to continue watching, they are not enough to feel fully rewarded. Despite all this, the great work of its protagonist and that striking staging are hooks that allow you to stay attentive to its final climax, which to a certain extent surprises with decisions that leave you feeling that it could have been.

Their music is amazing.

Sadie Sink shines with her immense voice, but she's also accompanied by great lyrics and a good musical score, which is the musical's greatest asset. This mix of rock, pop, folk, punk, and beats makes the film an incredible playlist of great songs that justify all its on-screen moments. Kelvin Harrison Jr. Joins in with a couple of interesting musical numbers, and even the villain shines in a song. That's the film's great merit, which, in its musical equation, is a great ode to sounds and justifies watching it alongside Sink.

Conclusion.

It's a film that could have been bigger than it ended up being. It had good intentions and plenty of powerful plots, but it misses the mark on some decisions that diminish its potential, leaving it wanting more than enough for this musical to finally make its return to the big screen. Its streaming platform is perfect because it's a perfect film to watch at home without regretting whether you spent your money well or not. It's worth seeing for its lead character, its music, and its style; without setting high expectations, you can simply find a reward in an interesting musical that ends up being poorly executed.

Sadie sink is easily the best part of this movie. She is what makes the movie worth watching.

The plot is an interesting premise, and has interesting ideas in there. But was never able to capture with the story was trying to tell and never came off as interesting.

This movie is a musical, most songs in here do not work, you could've cut out more than half of the songs in this movie and the plot will work just fine without them. For a musical to be a musical the songs need to be in there, and this movie didn't really capture that it needs to be a musical feel.

The first half of this movie is a solid watch, but by the end of it, I wasn't interested in it.

I have no idea why so many reviews have trashed this film (this is actually my first review ever because the rating needs justice) but I suppose that's the nature of art: it's not going to work for everyone.

I was captivated by this film, the story development others claim it lacks I found flushed out in the wordless dialogue prevalent in the actors' expressions, deliberate aesthetics, and, of course, in the songwriting.

The only reason I can't give it the last star is because I wish it was a series; I want to spend more time with these characters in this civilisation that doesn't realise how much it needs the people next to them in order to get their autonomy back.

I am not sure I can agree with such a low rating for this movie. I can see where some may feel the movie falls short. The plot was alright and lacked some direction at points. However, overall the visuals were fantastic, the music was enjoyable, and the characters were interesting to watch throughout the screening. I feel that anyone that rated it below a 6 did not really understand the movie and I am questioning if they even really watched it at all. I mean it isn't in my top 10 movies probably but it was definitely enjoyable and I would say this was a particularly creative movie. Was great watching sadie sink put on such a unique performance!

I would rate it a 7 or 8, but I picked 10 to balance against the haters. It's a good movie to watch and relax to, because even if it's based on a dystopian world, it's told as a simple tale of a girl searching for hope and following a prophecy. It's not a complex story, but it has a lot of symbolism and beauty. You can enjoy the message through the music, with the same free spirit of a child enjoying a fable without overthinking... and the voice of Sadie Sink is a bless.

I'm not sure why, but the plot style felt kind of Chappie and visually it's like a mix between Blade Runner and Cloud Atlas... but well, If you dislike musicals or are looking for the classic depth and angst of a dystopian story like "1984," I must say this is not your movie.

And hey, amazed me the amount of people voting 1 :o... Please don't be as grumpy kids giving Santa a bad rating just 'cause he didn't bring the exact Hot Wheels color they didn't even request.

The songs and actors were absolutely amazing. Its one of a kind of a beautiful love story and about hope and love amongst eachother whom we coexist with. Its was beautiful. The songs and the aesthetic. I love kelvin harrison jr and sadie sink together in this beautiful movie. Who knew a scorpio can make something with so much depth. Lol. This was more that what i thought it was going to be and it filled me with so much more. The main actors have such a bright future ahead for their careers because their movie resume is filled with so much quality. This movie does not deserve such a low rating.

O'Dessa is more than a dystopian musical thriller-it is an allegory woven with classical mythology, Orwellian warnings, and the transformative power of music. Beautifully shot in a bleak yet eerily mesmerizing future, the film reimagines Homer's Odyssey through the lens of a world where art and individualism are crushed under the weight of a sadistic, yet handsome, gleeful, hypo-manic TV Host/Dictator.

O'dessa is the young woman who is a symbol of resilience and with her inherited musical talent as a weapon, she embarks on a journey to ramble: from her folk ballads, evolving into folk-rock, hard rock, and finally an electrifying Eurobeat.

She busks her way through a grotesque totalitarian system where a single, omnipresent TV channel broadcasts torture as mass amusement-echoes Orwellian nightmares while recalling the grand, satirical spectacles of O Brother, Where Art Thou.

Her love interest is a very personable guy, another victim of a broken society.

This deep human connection of "one"-ness, could transcend to society, if she can fulfill her destiny by retrieving her father's six string guitar ... plus one.

Every aspect of O'dessa is meticulously crafted, from its haunting cinematography to its exhilarating soundtrack that fuses classic storytelling with modern soundscapes: power of art to challenge, inspire, and ultimately, free.

This is the film of our age: thrilling, deeply symbolic, and utterly unforgettable.

This movie can only be understood at this generations "1984" by George Orwell in a musical version which seems fitting giving the fact that today's broad entertainment is found on a smartphone screen and not on paper. In times of the war between Putin and Ukraine it's fairly obvious to call the protagonist O'dessa and the villain Plutonivich in this post apocalyptic musical drama. There are hidden political messages everywhere as we often see in the world of musical theatre. Main Topics are consumerism, dictatorships, environmental crisis, Generatioal trauma, resource war, the ongoing war between Ukraine and Putin, Diversity, LGBTQ+ and Gender discourse. The whole of it hits right in the nerve of the new generation. The songs performed by a passionate cast are good for a broad audience and carry the plot. The cast did well, but the message of this movie does stand out the most. Watch it.

This is not a film for everyone, as evidenced by so many that just didn't understand it. This is art, heart, and music. It will undoubtedly be heralded as a cult classic, and for very good reasons. For anyone that holds high such treasures as Six String Samurai, cyberpunk classics like Johnny Mnemonic or Blade Runner, or even appreciates the retelling of tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet... This is all of those. The music is quite good, and you'll find yourself humming a number of them.

Make no mistake, the reason there is so much hate is that this also covers gender bending, interracial love, and has a message of hope. Of course the black hearts would come to see it fail. They cannot view the world except through the eyes of judgment and rage that this world is changing. And this movie embodies so much of that and more.

Again, I completely understand why many people may not have the fortitude, wisdom, or vision to enjoy this movie... But I don't agree at all with the haters, because it says more about why you SHOULD see the film, and why they shouldn't.

This movie deserves so much better ratings. I started to watch it because of sadie sink and ended up finding one of my favourite movies in these years. From start to finish it was wonderful. Songs were great, sadie sink did a magnificent job, and shots were memorable and beautiful. Story was simple, but wasn't trying to be anything more than it wants to be. It connects with you instantly. You want to follow this girl who travels with her guitar and walks in an epic journey.

I'm so tired of people giving decent movies like this low ratings and attention. It's like simple decent story telling makes them mad.

This is a musically,visually,and dramatically a stunning piece of original cinema. It was billed as a "Rock Opera" and that's truly what it is. It isn't a hugely original story or premise,but it's an immensely original artistic take on one. I'm Genx,so I'm acutely aware of how Cult Classics are born. I really hope this gets the immediate attention it deserves,but seeing as it was a Hulu release I'm sure it's going to have to overcome that stigma overtime to find it's audience. But MARK MY WORDS!!! In 10-15 years when Sadie Sink is a gigantic star because of the ridiculous talent she showcased in this art film,people will see and understand this review. If you see it before then,do yourself a favor and watch it. She,and all the other performers actually sang that music.